Saturday, February 28, 2009

This is for a good friend of mine, Lisa. She is the one who introduced me to stamping. She has a birthday next week. This was created as an inspiration challenge inspired by Kryssi. Her blog is here: http://sugar-buffet.blogspot.com/. Kryssi's favorite color combo is teal, red and brown. This card is inspired by her colors and my friend Lisa as we both loved the Her Arts Asian doll set. Recipe:

Punch out sixteen 1 1/4" circles from white cardstock. Stamp them using the for different stamps and brown ink.

Cut a 4 1/2" circle out of white cardstock.

Stamp tree image using brown ink.

Stamp sentiment using red ink around the edges curving the acrylic stamp to follow the line of the circle.

Friday, February 27, 2009

This card was inspired by Kiara http://stampingcafe.blogspot.com/ as well. The card itself actually happened because everytime I make a card (See earlier this week) I end up with something I reject. Usually those scraps go into the scrap pile until I can use them in a card but this was already a half finished card.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

I put together a couple of cards for two challenges. Hero Arts Weekly Challenge for friendship: http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2009/02/16/motivation-monday-friendship-a-video/ and Godelieve posted a sunday scraps challenge on 2 Pea's: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2752494 .Godelieve suggested a weekly challenge on Sundays to use up scraps. I have a ton of scraps from all my projects. I actually started from a couple of scraps (screen shadow background and butterfly) to make this card: While making this card I tried something which I didn't like on the little card and ended up with another scrap! So I decided I must put that into a card as well otherwise I would not be using up my scraps.. So here is my second card.

Products:

Hero Arts Sparkle Design - Mini Messages

Hero Arts CardArt Thinking of You

Hero Arts Designblock - Wavy Leaf Pattern

Creative Beginnings - Light Pink Embossing Powder

Versamark Watermark Ink

Basic Grey - eloquent stamp

Hero Arts - Screen Shadow

Amy Butler Lotus Floral Stamps

Memento - Rose Bud

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots

Marvy Uchida Circle Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Scalloped Circle

Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels

I also wanted to share that a few of my cards are out this month in the April issue of Crafts n Things. I sent them in a long time ago and they let me know they were going to be published, but it has been a long time to wait to see them in print. Very exciting for me. I also have a few other pending future issues.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Here is my second entry for the Hero Arts Blog Challenge this week for friendship. I found this scrap I had stamped. (The background in light green) which was stamped with the same stamp in light green and dark green on both sides. (Ha!) Which didn't make it onto another card. I love this Designblock from Hero Arts it is spread out enough that it makes a beautiful lacy background.

I have been very bad and went shopping today... See the fringe on the bottom and the fancy lavendar doily circle? New Fiskars corner punch. :(

Friday, February 20, 2009

I looked at the colors and thought of my alcohol inks. Butterscotch, Rust and Lettuce. I have used these colors together before and liked the effect. So I pulled them out to create a beautiful background color. (Side note: There are new colors out in the acohol inks from Ranger and they are on my list to get!)

Since I have done a card with similar colors I wanted to do something different for the flowers. I use a light yellow embossing powder and was really pleased with the effect.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

This weeks challenge at Hero Arts is to create a card based on friendship. I have met so many wonderful friends online with my cardmaking. My card I made from the challenge is based on scraps that my on-line friend Jacqueline sent me. I was so excited as she sent me a package the other day and not only did she send me scraps, but she also sent me an ATC. Her ATC is so beautiful and lovely...

and here is my friendship card made from some of her scraps she sent to me...

She sent me the beautiful arch window and the butterflies are stamped on some pretty mauve patterned paper.

I used a new technique to make the window background. I have still to create some more pieces using this technique as I love the effect. The technique leaves your creation looking like spun suger.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

I love how Oriental Poppies look... They are beautiful. Unfortunately every time I plant them they never make it through the summer. Our yard is too open and dry much less the soil conditions. This card reminded me of the beauty of poppies.

I tried creating a gate fold with an opening in the middle to showcase the inside of the card.This is the card closed.

This is the card opened slightly. The Poppies are all stamped with StazOn Timber Brown. The brown on the white is very pretty and doesn't translate in the pictures.

The flowers are colored with watercoor pencils and blended with the waterbrush. The effect is much softer in real life.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

As you can see I have received a few Penny Black stamps recently and a few more are on thier way... This is one from a clear set "Thinking of You".. It reminded me of my Grandmother's kitchen. A little bunch of wildflowers stuffed into a glass jar.

The embossed background actually has a faint shade of blue and was sponged with the brown. The flowers were stamped in blue pigment ink and colored with my colored pencils. I sponged the edges of the circle with green dye ink.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Last week's challenge at Hero Arts was favorites. I saw a few cards made with their dandelion stamp. I really love this stamp as well and decided to pull it out last night and play around with it.

The background was created using Ranger distress inks and water to create a light tan background. I then stamped the screen shadow using a very bright yellow. I then double stamped the dandelion with a brown and a dark blue added a touch of stickles. The bee is from the sentiment and a clear stamp set with the little swirly dots.

Friday, February 13, 2009

I just received the Penny Black clear Sentiments set. I have been playing with them and this little star stamp reminded me of some retro patterns that you used to see. It took me 3 tries to accomplish this card and I still don't think it is as clean as I would like it to be.

I love the words put together in a line as sentiments in this set and suspect you will be seeing more cards using this set.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

This week challenge on Hero Arts is to use your favorite stamps from Hero Arts. I actually have a few I like to use repeatedly. This card pulls a couple of them into one card.

Products:

Hero Arts - Coneflower

Hero Arts - Wood Grain

Hero Arts - Real Field Wildflower

Hero Arts - Wild Fairy Lily

Hero Arts - Soft Sand Ink Pad

StazOn - Olive Green

Watercolor Markers

Color Pencils

Pebbles Inc. Pearlescent Chalks

Versamark Watermark Ink

Acetate

Clear Embossing Powder

American Craft - Ribbon

Hero Arts - French Script

I love their wildflowers and wood grain stamp and used both in this card. Sorry about the picture we are in a dense fog advisory this morning and I had to take my picture indoors. On my to do list is to set up a space to take better pictures. :)

Speaking of spaces my youngest took a snapshot of my craft space. I decided to share it with you. (Very cluttered) My craft space has moved multiple times and is transitional so my storage is all about plastic drawers.

The desk is a desk my husband made in high school wood working class. This tells you how talented he is in woodworking. He made me my ink pad storage which is in the picture to the left and it works wonderfully. Although this looks very messy I know where everything is and can pull it out very quickly as I need it.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

This is a stamp from Penny Black that I think is beautiful. I love the simplicity of the dress and the bride. I sketched up a card the other night with this design and she fit beautifully into the sketch. The flowers around the edges are embossed with an iridescent clear embossing powder to give it some more sparkle.

The card is a gatefold card (5 1/2" x 5 1/2"). The stamped image is attached to the band that slides onto the card.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

I have been playing around with this new Penny Black Clear Set. There are these beautiful images that I thought would look lovely in watercolor. I cheated and didn't use my watercolors The images are stamped on the front of acetate and a sticky adhesive is put across the back. I then took chalk and colored on the adhesive. This technique gives a beautiful muted effect.

Products:

Penny Black Thinking of You

Pebbles Inc, Pearlescent Chalk

Martha Stewart Border Punch

White Crochet Flowers (A gift from Jacqueline!)

Turquoise Crochet Flower - (I can't remember the brand name but know I purchased it at Archiver's)